Turtle cake

by Joanne Clifton
(Fredericksburg, Texas)

Find a picture of a cute turtle in coloring books or on the internet. Xerox and place on hard surface, removing any wrinkles. Cover with wax paper or parchment paper. Mix up a batch of color flow - 1/4 cup + 1 tsp of water to 4 cups of powdered sugar and 2 tbsp of color flow or meringue powder makes 2 cups. Mix 5 minutes on high.

Remove 1/4 cup and cover remaining with damp cloth. Tint color flow that has been removed with desired outline color. Outline entire picture. I also free handed a lily pad. Let dry 2 hours.

After completely crusted, take desired 1/4 cup or less and tint to desired color, thinning with a tsp of water at a time, to flow consistency and fill in all areas one color at a time, allowing each to dry before adding the next.

Allow to dry for 24 to 48 hours before carefully sliding on desired two layer cake and securing with a small amount of frosting. This cake top was covered with light blue on top, and chocolate fudge on the sides.

Chocolate fudge shell border around the top and light blue around the bottom base. Tips 3 and 10 made the reeds stalk and top. The lily was made with fondant and secured with frosting, but an open shell flower with tip 3 center could be substituted.